George Washington and Dentures

Posted November 29, 2017.

Were you aware that in 1976, more than 150 years after his death, George Washington was promoted to Six Star General in the U.S. military? This promotion was created only for Washington, meaning no military officer can ever outrank him. Read on to learn a little bit more about Washington’s famous dentures.George Washington may be the most famous denture-wearer to Americans, but multiple of the things we’ve heard aren’t exactly true. Though John Adams claimed Washington lost his teeth due to his love of nuts and his penchant to crack them open with his teeth, historians believe that it was mercury oxide, a common medicine at the time, that probably caused Washington’s tooth loss problem.Contrary to common belief, none of Washington’s chompers were made of wood: Washington’s four sets of false teeth were created from materials including hippo ivory, elephant ivory, and real human teeth. Sadly, Washington’s dental problems left him in near-constant pain. Today, dentures are made from resins that ensure toughness and real-life resemblance; please ask us about dentures on your next checkup if you or a loved one are missing several pearly whites.Arrange your checkup by calling 402-423-1100, or stop by our Lincoln, Nebraska, office to speak with Dr. Brent Murphy and the Pine Ridge Dental team directly.